Tie plate and rail retaining clip



F. A. PRESTON TIE PLATE ND RAILR'ETAINING CLIP March 31, 1936.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d Apr l 1l, 1932 Fil P a a v m 7J o. a

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ederzb.Pres0'/2 Patented Mar. 3l, 1936 PATENT OFFICE' TIE PLATE AND RAIL RETAINING CLIP Frederick A. Preston, Lake Forest, Ill., assignor to The P & M Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 11, 1932, serial No. 604,509 s claims. (o1. ass- 304) This invention relates to improvements in devices for supporting and retaining a railroad rail in its proper position in a trackway and more particularly to the general class of such devices 5 which consists of a tie plate having ribs or other forms of abutments thereon, to prevent lateral movement of the rail, and means removably engaged with the plate and projecting over a base iiange of the rail to maintain a desired engagement of the plate and rail.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved combination structure of the above character in which the means on the tie plate for providing a lateral abutment for the rail, and the rail retaining clip associated with said` abutment, are so formed and engaged with `each other as to simplify the manufacture of the tie piate and clip, and which make it practicable to form the tie plate with relatively low abutments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. tie plate having an abutment thereon which is so formed as to provide for convenient locking engagement with a rail retaining clip member,

which will permit application of said clip at various locations longitudinally of the said abut-v ment. ard which also provides for iirm engagement of the clip and said abutment without requiring the formation of key-ways in the said abutment, thereby making it practicable to employ key members of various widths, avoid the sharp edge portions of such key Ways' and in general to provide a more satisfactory abutment for devices of this character than heretofore emiiloyed.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved tie plate and rail retaining clip in which a. rail base abutment on the tie plate and a cooperating clip are so formed i 40 and engaged with each other that the clip is held in spring clamping engagement with said abutment without requiring engagement of the clip with the base portion of the rail. In this connection the invention contemplates a tie plate formed with an upstanding rib having an outturned flange, which may be conveniently formed by the well known rolling process, the clip employed in connection with said rib being so formed that it can be driven transversely of the rib into clamping engagement with the out-turned flange of said rib.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved tie plates and rail retaining clips therefor, which combination structure is particularly suitable for maintaining a rail in proper position in a track, but which will permit the rail to move freely vertically within the range of the normal wave movements of the rail, so as to prevent such movements of the rail from displacing the cross-tie in the ballast of the road- 5 bed. For example, the displacement generally known as pumping and the turning or rolling movements which are imparted to railway cross ties when the rail and tie structures are clamped in close contact with each other. A 10 more specific feature of the invention contemplates a novel form lof clip member whereby the clearance desired to be maintained betwr en the top face of the rail base and the under face of the clip can be provided by offsetting the end 15 of the clip, the said clip being offset with relation to its body in the direction required to provide the desired clearance between the clip and the rail.

Further and more specific objects of the inven- 20 tion will appear from the detailed description of the several embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tie plate and rail retaining clip constructed in accordance with this 25 invention and illustrating the base portion of a rail seated between the abutments of the tie plate.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the clearances, provided for 30 permitting the rail base to move vertically relative to the tie plate.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the means on the plate providing abutments for the rail retaining key. 35

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of tie plate and illustrating the use of rail retaining key members of different widths.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 4. o

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end view, in elevation, of a modified form of tie plate and a rail retaining key therefor, the latter of which is adapted to be formed of plate metal without involving bending operation. 45

Fig. 'l is a view in perspective of the rail retaining key member shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a rolled metal bar having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding substantially to the shape of the 50 clip member shown in Fig. 6, and from which clip members of any desired length may be cut.-

Referring rst to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings: 'I'he embodiments shown in said figures consist preferably of a tie plate, the base 55 'portion Ill of 'which is clamped in close contact with the upper surface of a cross tie I I, by means of any suitable attaching devices, for example, lag screws I2. Formed on the upper face of the tie plate are spaced upstanding ribs I3 and I4 which provide abutments for the opposite edges of the base portion I5 of a railroad rail so as to prevent lateral movement of said rail. The upper edge portion of the rib I3 is turned inwardly to provide a flange I6 which overlies the marginal portion of one base flange of the rail. The said flange I6 is preferably spaced from the upper surface of said base flange to provide a clearance II adapted to permit the base portion of the rail to move vertically relative to the tie plate and therebyk prevent the said vertical or Wave movement of the rail, produced by the passing of traiic over the rail, from imparting vertical or pumping movements to the cross tie II. The said vertical movements of the cross tie and likewise the turning or rolling movements of the-tie in the ballast, which are present when a railroad rail is clamped tightly to the cross tie, not only loosens the tie in the ballast of the road-bed, but also permits the ballast to Work beneath the cross tie in a manner to impair the alignment and surfaceof the track. Such results are avoided in the present invention by the provision for relative movement between the base of the Vrail and the tie plate.

The rib I4 of the plate is formed to provide means for attachment of the rail-retaining clip member I8. In order to avoid the formation of key-ways through the rib and to provide a construction in which a relatively low abutment rib may be used and at the same time provide greater strength and rigidity, the upper edge of said rib is formed with an out-turned flange I9. This construction, in addition to providing a low shoulder or rib I4, which facilitates the application of the plate between the rail and cross tie, Whenthe rail is in position, also provides a construction which avoids the punching of key-ways in the rib, permits the application of the clip at various locations lengthwise of the rib, permits the use of clip members of various widths, and 'in general simplies the manufacture of the plate in that the rib and the means for supporting the rail clip may be formed by the Well known rolling process. The outer edge ofthe lateral flange I9 is preferably curved, as indicated at 20, so as to provide rounded surfaces which facilitate the application of the clip member I3.

The clip member I8 consists preferably of a metal bar bent to provide jaws 2I-22 which embrace and resiliently grip the lateral flange I 9 of the rib I4. The jaw 2| is somewhat longer than the jaw 22 and extends yover the upper edge of the rib I4 so as to overlie the adjacent base flange of the rail The end portion 23 of the clip which' overlies the base flange of the rail is preferably offset relative to the main portion of the jaw 2I so as to provide the desired clearance 24 between the bottom face of the clip and the top face of the rail base. The clearance 24 is preferably equal to the clearance I'I. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the end 23 of the clip member is offset downwardly toward the base flange of the rail, and the offset end provides a shoulder 25 which has a locking engagement with the inner edge of the rib I4 when the clip |81 is in its fully applied position. While the shoulder 25 for locking the clip on the rib and the desired clearance 24 are obtained in the present embodiment by the same offset portion of the clip, it will be obvious that in situations wherein it may be desirable to onset the end 23 upwardly, the shoulder 25 may be dispensed with or otherwise formed to snap over any suitable projection on the rib I4.

By inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it Will be apparent that the key member I8 is applied to its operative position by driving the key transversely of the rail until the shoulder 25 snaps over and into locking engagement with the inner edge of the rib I4. The key member maintains its position on therib by reason of the resilient clamping engagement of its jaws 2I'22 on the top and bottom surfaces of the flange I 9, the stressed engagement of the key being obtained by its movement to its operative position and without engagement 'with the base flange of the rail. The clip may be made from metal stock of any suitable thickness. The thickness of the clip and the height of the shoulder are preferably such that there is but slight clearance between the jaw 22 of the clip and the top face of the tie-plate. In order to maintain the clip in its proper position during its movement to its applied position and to prevent displacement thereof longitudinally of the flange I9, the upper face of the base portion of the plate I0 is formed with a series of ribs 25 which serve as abutments for opposite faces of the lower jaw 22.

In operation, the tie plate is normally fixed rigidly to the top face of the cross tie and the base flanges of the rail are positioned between the shoulders I3, I4 of the plate. The spring retaining clip I8 is then driven to its applied position in the manner above described.

In Figs. 4 and 5, of the drawings, the tie plate Ia. is formed adjacent opposite edges of the rail base with upstanding ribs which correspond in structure to the upstanding rib I4 of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The said upstanding ribs of Figs. 4 and 5 are therefore designated as Ica-Ma. In this form of tie plate, the transverse ribs 26, shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 inclusive, are omitted, so as to make it practicable to use rail retaining clips of various widths. In Fig. 4v a railretaining clip I 8 is illustrated corresponding in size and shape to the clip illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A clip I8a of the same general contour, but of greater Width, is illustrated in its applied position, it being applied to the upstanding rib at the opposite side of the'rail base. The tie plate construction and the forms of the rail retaining clips shown in Figs. 4 and 5, except for the distinction above noted, may be and preferably are the same in construction as the form of the invention shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 inclusive. The corresponding parts have therefore been indicated by the same reference numbers accompanied with an exponent a. When removable clips are employed at opposite sides of the rail, the rail may be readily seated on the tie plates, when both clips are removed, without tilting the rail about its longitudinal axis. With such a construction a rail may be removed from a track and another rail inserted therein without requiring removal of the splice bars at opposite ends of the rail. It is sufficient in such case to remove the joint splice bars at one end only of the rail. The use of rail retaining clips on both sides of the rail presents a further advantage in that the heightof the ribs I 4a-I4a may be so proportioned as to permit the rail retaining clips to frictionally engage the base flanges of the rail when such engagement is desirable.

In Fig. 61a further modification is shown in which the shoulder or rib member of the tie plate, at one side of the rail, is formed with an outturned flange 21 which instead of being disposed at right angles to the upstanding portion 2l of the rib is arranged to form an obtuse angle. The upper and lower surfaces 29 and 30 provide bearing surfaces for upper and lower jaws 3l, 32 of a retaining clip member 33. This clip member, instead of being formed by a bending operation, such as shown in connection with the previous figures, is made from plate material, the flange receiving recess of the key being formed preferably by a suitable punching or shearing operation. When the clip is in its applied position any turning of the clip about the flange 21 as an axis moves the lower corner 34 and the corner portion 35 of the clip into binding position between the base of the tie plate and the lower surface 32 of said flange 21. The modified form of tie plate |01) may be formed at the opposite side of the rail with a rib corresponding to that shown at 28 in Fig. 6 or with abutment ribs such'as shown in any of the previous embodiments. The base portion |51) ofthe rail is applied to its operative position between the abutment shoulders of the plate Ib in the mann'er previously described.

The spring clips shown in Figs. l to 7 inclusive, instead of being formed in the manner previously indicated may be severed from a rolled metal bar 36 having the desired cross-sectional contour. In Fig. 8 a rolled metal bar 36 is shown having a cross section corresponding in shape to the clip shown in Fig. 7. Clip members 33a of any desired length may be provided by severing them from the bar, one length of clip being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tie plate member having a portion for insertion between a rail and cross tie and formed with an upstanding rib providing a vertical abutment for one edge of the rail base, the said rib being formed along its upper edge with an out-turned flange and a resilient clip member having upper and lower jaws adapted to be driven transversely of said rib at any one of a plurality af locations into spring gripping .engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of said out-turnedl flange and define a flange embracing recess of greater length than the width of said out-turned flange; one end of the upper jaw projecting over the upper surface of said rail base and formed with a shoulder adapted to snap into locking engagement with said upstanding rib when the clip is driven to its applied position.

2. In combination, a tie-plate formed on its upper surface with a rib formed along its upper edge with an out-turned flange and providing a vertical abutment for one edge of a rail base, a rail retaining clip adapted for application to said rib at any one o a plurality of locations thereon and formed with spaced jaws for gripping engagement with the to'p and bottom surfaces of said out-turned flange; one of said jaws extending over the upper edge of said rib and overlying the adjacent base flange of the rail, but with clearance between said jaw and the said rail base flange.

3. In combination, a tie-plate for supporting the base portion of a railroad rail and having a relatively low rib thereon providing an abutment for one edge of the rail base, which abutment is formed along its upper edge with an out-turned flange, a rail-retaining clip of substantially hook form having a long upper jaw and a shorter lower jaw and movable transversely of said abutment at any one of a plurality of locations into spring clamping engagement with said out-turned flange; the end portion of the upper jaw of the said clip being offset downwardly relative to the top surface of said out-turned flange to provide a locking shoulder engaged with said abutment and to position said-offset end portion relative to the top surface of the adjacent base flange of the rail to permit limited vertical movement of said rail base flange.

4. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail comprising in combination, a tie plate formed with an upstanding rib provided along its upper edge with an in-turned flange whicheverlies one base flange of the rail base, but is spaced therefrom to permit limited Vertical movement of the rail relative to the plate, a second upstanding rib for abutting engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base, which latter rib is of a height approximating the edge thickness of the rail base and formed along its upper edge with an out-turned flange, and a resilient rail-retaining clip member having jaws movable transversely of said out-turned flange at any one of a plurality of locations longitudinally of the flange into clamping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces thereof.

5. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail comprising in combination, a tie plate provided on its upper face with a relatively low rib formed at its upper end with an outwardly turned flange and providing an abutment for one edge of the rail base, a rail retaining clip adapted to be driven transversely of said abutment to a position overlying the marginal portion of one base flange of the rail and into clamping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of said flange; the upper surface of said plate adjacent said rib being provided with a plurality of transversely extending ribs serving as reinforcements formed on its upper surface with a rib having an inner vertical side face to provide an abutment for one edge of the rail and having an outwardly projecting flange, and a stiff but slightly resilient rail retaining clip having upper and lower jaw portions which engage the upper and lower faces of said flange, the upper one of which jaw members extends over the rail base and is provided with a shoulder to project below the inner edge of the rib so that when the clip is driven on the rib transversely thereof it will flex to allow the jaw members to spread apart and then snap back into a close clamping engagement with the rib which retains the clip on the flange portion of the rib.

7. Supporting and retaining means for a railroad rail comprising in combination, a tie plate formed on its upper surface with an integral rib serving as an abutment for one edge portion of the rail, the upper portion of said rib being formed to extend upwardly and outwardly at an e obtuse angle to the inner face of the rib and the upper face of said out-turned portion being formed with a curvature in a direction transversely to the length of said rib, and a stiff but slightly resilient rail retaining clip member provided with upper and lower jaw members which engage the upper and lower faces of said flange, the upper oneof which jaw members extends over the rail base and is provided with a shoulder to project below the inner edge of the rib so that l projecting flange, and a stiff but slightly resilient rail retaining clip having upper and lower jaw portions which engage the upper and lower faces of said ange, the upper one' of said jaw portions extending over the rail base and one of said jaw portions beingformed with a locking shoulder and the rib being correspondinglyformed to provide an interlocking engagement between said shoulder and rib so that when the clip is driven on the rib transversely thereof it will flex to allow the jaw members to spread apart and spring back into a close interlocking engagement with the rib which retains the clip on the flanged portion of the rib.

FREDERICK A. PRESTON. 

